Hopefully, most of you reading this had a blessed or restful Good Friday and Easter celebration, a traditional Seder Supper as part of a weeklong Passover commemoration, or even a recent Eid al-Fitr feast marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Unfortunately, however, in the homes of thousands of Georgia families, instead of a joyous Easter brunch, an unprovoked punch in the face came from a spouse. Alternatively, an elder, now sharing their home in exchange for familiar support or caregiving, receives a scalding bath or other intentional elder abuse. Furthermore, an increase in reported criminal acts indicates that too many children are being sexually abused or trafficked.
Domestic abuse, in all of its horrific forms — mental, physical, sexual — often remains a seldom-discussed, silent killer in the shadows. Yet, it knows no economic or demographic boundaries.
In urban areas, many of these crimes are treated as misdemeanors, at least for a first offense or as part of a negotiated plea deal, which brings those victims and their abusers into the jurisdiction of your county solicitor general.
Living in DeKalb County, I am proud of the work Solicitor-GeneralDonna Coleman-Striblingis doing to reduce these crimes and to protect, support, and assist domestic abuse victims here.
The Coleman family has decades of public service and leadership in the community. For the past six years, Coleman-Striblinghas chosen to shine a spotlight on this plight by raising spirits and funds through a “celebrity” dance competition that benefits nonprofit and charitable organizations housing and assisting victims of domestic abuse.
Dancing with the DeKalb Stars,modeled after the ABC-TV competition, pairs local politicians, civic leaders, and occasionally a media personality — this year, me and my two left feet are paired with professional dance instructor Tanika Vinc — competing for the grand prize of a glaring, 1980sera disco ball, but more importantly, county-wide bragging rights.Since not all of us are ballroom dancers, there also is a team competition to raise charitable donations and ticket sales to benefit two very worthy causes: International Women’s House (iwh-atlanta.org), a charitable organization offering shelter and comprehensive services to women and their children fleeing domestic violence. Since 1997, it has provided hope and a safe haven to victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and sex trafficking.
Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence (wrcdv.org), a local nonprofit dedicated to providing safety, advocacy, and support for victims of domestic violence and their families. It was formerly known as the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center.
Ticket sales, donations and corporate sponsors make the event possible and raise between $60,000 and $100,000 annually for the benefiting nonprofits. All donations are tax deductible.
I, of course, am slightly prejudiced in favor of one of the dance teams.And among my competitors is my WSB-TV Action News colleagueMark Winne, an incredible journalist and a great guy (but he is also an Auburn Tiger).
So, just in case my missteps cost us in the dance competition, I’ll need your help for me and Tanika to beat Mark and the other teams in fundraising.I am slowly getting the moves down, but this isn’t a beach music shag competition, unfortunately.
“This event is about more than dancing,” Solicitor-General Donna Coleman Stribling said. “It’s about showing up for survivors and ensuring that families in distress know that help is available. Every ticket purchased and every donation made strengthens the safety net for victims right here in our community.”
The gala begins at 5 p.m. with a resource fair, followed by the dance competition an hour later.Food and beverages will be served (no adult beverages) at the Porter Sanford Center, a performing arts center with theatre seating.We are going to have a great time, and hopefully entertain a packed house there, but the real deal is about raising much-needed dollars to help victims of domestic violence to put their lives and potentially their families back together.
Team Banika (aka Bill Crane & Tanika Vincent),Cha-Cha Sway facebook.com/ reel/1452804726588590 DeKalb Dance Teams facebook.com/ reel/1265036622250000 Gala Tickets or Making Team Donations cbo.io/app/public/ bidapp/dekalbstars I already know I can count on you to lend us a helping hand. — Bill